102815_wambachabby_isi_uswntbs091715413 Brad Smith/isiphotos.com
10.28.15

ASN Morning Read: Abby Wambach Walks Away

The international legend decides that enough is enough and the testamonials come pouring in; Major League Soccer sets a record for fans through the gates and finds some support in surprising places.
BY Noah Davis Posted
October 28, 2015
8:00 AM
  • On the day the United States women's soccer team went to the White House, Abby Wambach announced that this would be her last season. Julie Foudy has the best column about the decision and the legacy: "I've been proud of a lot of Abby's moments, but I will tell you I have never been more proud than when I watched her lead her team this summer. As she's the best goal scorer in the world, it is understandable she would want to be in the game, fighting on the field, putting her team on her back as she has done so often in her career. But she found herself on the bench most of the time, with the younger players favored. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, as we have watched athletes do for too many lifetimes, Abby led. She led with positivity. She led by celebrating others. She led unselfishly. She led by example. It was clear: Abby wanted a World Cup title and nothing was getting in her way. Minutes didn't matter. Winning did. I often argue that if Abby had responded differently to her new role, the U.S. would not have won this World Cup."

  • Remarkable:
  • Sure, they added two new teams that were second and third in attendance but whatever—a record is a record: "MLS shattered its average attendance record, climbing 12.7 percent to 21,574 fans a game in 2015. It marked the first time MLS surpassed 20,000 fans a game. The jumps of 12.7 percent and 2,427 per game are both league records. MLS's previous highest increase was 8.8 percent in 2001."

  • People in England like MLS, too. 

  • Quite the career:

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